TEENAGE RACER SEAN MERKEL AND CHRIS SHUEY TAKES WINS AT GRANDVIEW ON SATURDAY NIGHT
BECHTELSVILLE, PA July 24, 2004 . . . “This is something I have dreamed about since I was five years old. I have always wanted to be in victory lane at Grandview Speedway,” said teenager Sean Merkel. The Gilbertsville, PA racer made his dream come true wheeling his Agliano Brothers Trucking/Pheasantland Roller Rink #118 Modified to his first career victory in the 30-lap Hatfield Meats NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature race on Saturday night at the Berks County clay oval. Veteran racer Chris Shuey of Orefield, PA drove the Harry’s U-Pull-It Auto Parts #21 to victory in the 20-lap main event for NASCAR ShorTrack Late Models.
Merkel started in the number one position in the 30 lap feature and lead every lap to take home his first win. Track conditions were excellent and made for some high speed competition. However Barry Readinger challenged the youngster early and after a caution on lap six that sent Jeff Strunk, the current Modified point leader to the back of the pack, and Meme DeSantis to the pits through for the night, Cliff Quinn came up to put pressure on the leader. A couple of times Merkel and Quinn ran side-by-side with Quinn able to get the edge a couple of times but Merkel outpowered the veteran racer to grab back first spot.
Late in the race another youngster came charging up to second spot and put some late race pressure on Merkel but when it was all over, the checkered flag had fallen, Merkel picked up his first $2,200 victory check. Mike Gular (Harleysville) continues to seek his first feature victory settling for second. Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing), coming from 10th, finished third while Craig VonDohren (Oley) put on a great driving display to earn a fourth followed by Kyle Weiss (Hamburg).
Current point leader Jeff Strunk, involved in an early race incident and forced to go to the rear of the field after a pit stop, came up through the pack to earn a seventh place finish in the 29 car starting field and held on to his point in the chase for the lucrative track championship.
Chris Shuey made it look easy has head took command from his pole position starting spot and lead every lap in a 20-lap feature that saw few cautions. Rick Todorow (Quakertown) tried to reel in the leader but just was not strong enough to mount a strong challenge and was a distant second at the finish. Third spot went to Terry Snyder (East Greenville) followed by early season feature winner Jason Miller (New Tripoli) and two time champion Lou Egrie (Willow Grove).
Qualifying heat races for the Modifieds were won by Ed Scott, Tracy Readinger, Cliff Quinn, Rick Schaffer and Sean Merkel. Craig VonDohren actually crossed the finish line first in the heat won by Merkel but was set back three spots for over aggressive driving. The consolation races went to Donny Erb, Larry Solomon and Kevin Hartnett while the Cheers Tavern Cash Dash was won by Rick Schaffer.
In qualifiers for the Late Models the victories were earned by Chris Shuey, Lou Egrie and Rick Todorow. Shuey was also able to win the Jim Brown Cash Dash for Late Models making it a clean sweep night for the Harry’s U-Pull-It Auto Parts team.
Fans and racers are reminded that raffle tickets are now available that could win them a trip for two as part of the annual Champion’s Trip in late November. This year the trip goes to Aruba for eight days and seven nights. Raffle tickets for the trip (the trip is valued at more than $3000 and is for two people) are priced at $20.00 each. Just 150 tickets are being sold. Each feature stock car feature winner on Saturday nights receives a free chance on the trip courtesy of Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Coming up on Saturday, July 31st, 7:30 p.m. it will be Craftsman Tools Night at Grandview Speedway featuring at least 13 events of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified and Late Model stock car racing. Craftsman Tools, a major sponsor of NASCAR sanctioned racing, is also sponsor of the annual Craftsman Mechanic of the Year program.
Coming up on Saturday, August 7th, 7:30 p.m. is one of the biggest modified stock car racing events of the season, the Stauffer Construction Forrest Rogers Memorial, a 50 lap feature for the NASCAR Modifieds paying $10,000 to win. There will also be a full show of late model stock car racing topped by a 20 lap feature race.
Grandview Speedway is a one-third-mile, banked clay oval, NASCAR sanctioned, located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For race information telephone 610.754.7688 or visit their website at www.grandviewspeedway.com. For information on marketing opportunities at Grandview Speedway telephone Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. at 215.752.7797 or email Esaxton144@aol.com.
HATFIELD QUALITY MEATS NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS..30 LAPS:1.Sean Merkel 2. Mike Gular 3. Doug Manmiller 4. Craig VonDohren 5. Kyle Weiss 6.Cliff Quinn 7.Jeff Strunk 8.Jon Kellner Sr. 9.Keith Brightbill 10.Shawn Reimert 11.Ray Swinehart 12.Barry Readinger 13.Larry Solomon 14.Kevin Hartnett 15.Ron Seltman 16.Donny Erb 17.Jimmy Reppert 18.Ed Scott 19.Kenny Gilmore 20.Todd Marburger 21.Ron Solomon Jr. 22. John Willman 23. Terry Meitzler 24.Rick Schaffer 25.Bobby Trapper 26.John Tschudy 27.Tracy Readinger 28.Meme DeSantis 29. Mike Bailey
HATFIELD QUALITY MEATS NASCAR SHORTRACK LATE MODELS..20 LAPS:
1.Chris Shuey 2. Rick Todorow 3. Terry Snyder 4. Jason Miller 5. Lou Egrie 6. Ron Kline 7. Dean Soudt 8. Brian Shuey 9. Kelly Snyder 10.Chuck Schutz 11.Mike Kellner 12.Steve Sennott 13.Steve Todorow 14.John Giesler 15.Doug Walton 16.Junior Grebe 17.Buddy Wharton 18.Mark Malcolm 19.Dan Keely 20.Mike Steinmetz 21.Jesse Willman 22.Mike Wunderlich 23.Kyle Pensinger 24. Randy Stoudt 25. Dean Schaeffer.